SD Template Helper Functions

Summary The Template Helper functions clean up an SD template, and only the template's owner can use them. From SD Settings, you can remove a template's comments and files, and its hidden rows, so it starts clean when people use it. Removing comments clears the SD's own chats, but not those on an embedded task or SD; for those, you open the embedded SD and run the same function there.

Steps

Introduction. SD templates have helper functions that tidy up a template before people use it. Note. These functions are only available to the owner of the SD template.

Step 1

Open the SD template you want to clean up.

Step 2

You can tell an SD is a template because its Template tick box is ticked. It is at the bottom left of the SD, in the dark grey bar, beside Global and Workflow.

Step 3

Look for comments and files on the template's rows. A row that has them shows a red number on its chat or paperclip icon, at the right of the row.

Why this helps. People create SD templates in one of two ways: - Proactive: they identify a business problem, design a solution, and build an SD template from scratch. - Reactive: they've been using an SD and realise over time that it should be a template, so they convert it. The second approach is totally valid, and often better tested, since the SD has already proven useful. But it has a downside: the SD may carry over old comments, tasks or attachments from its original use. The helper functions help you clear that clutter, so the template is polished and reusable.

Cleaning up a template

Step 4

Click SD Settings, the first of the grey buttons under the row of purple buttons. The SD Settings panel opens on the left of the screen.

Step 5

In the panel, click Template Helper functions, under Block Embedded SD Drilldown. A box of tick boxes opens.

Step 6

Tick what you want to remove. Remove Comments and Remove Files remove unnecessary comments and files, for a cleaner presentation. Remove Hidden Rows removes any hidden rows, to simplify the view further.

Step 7

Click Submit, under the tick boxes.

Step 8

A Confirmation box asks you to confirm that you wish to cleanse this template. Click OK.

Step 9

The red numbers on the rows' chat and paperclip icons are gone.

Chats on embedded tasks and SDs

Step 10

Check the SD's own chat too. The red number on the SD Chat button, in the row of grey buttons, shows how many chats it has.

Step 11

Check any task or SD embedded in the template. A red number on the chat icon at the right of its row shows that it has comments of its own.

Note. Running Remove Comments in the template clears the SD's own chat, but not the comments on an embedded task or SD.

Step 12

To clear the SD's own chat, open SD Settings again and click Template Helper functions.

Step 13

Tick Remove Comments, then click Submit.

Step 14

The SD's own chats are removed, and the SD Chat button shows 0. The chats on the embedded task or SD remain: its row still shows a number on its chat icon.

Step 15

To remove those, open the embedded SD: click the SD icon (crosses and circles) at the right of its row, to the left of the paperclip. The embedded SD opens.

Step 16

In the embedded SD, click SD Settings.

Step 17

Click Template Helper functions.

Step 18

Tick Remove Comments, then click Submit.

Step 19

The embedded SD's chats are removed, and its SD Chat button shows 0.

Step 20

Back in the main SD, the chat icon on the embedded SD's row no longer shows a number either.

Result. With these helper functions, you can streamline your SD templates by removing unnecessary elements, such as comments, files and hidden rows, and the numbers they leave on the rows' icons. The template presents a cleaner, more focused view, which makes it easier to navigate and more impactful.